On the veracity of USPS tracking numbers

CaptHenway

I just now, at 6:30 AM local time, tracked a package I have coming from eBay, and it shows as having left the Denver Regional Center, presumably for my home town. at 9:48 this morning!

If only it could give out lottery numbers more than three hours in the future!!!!

pointfivezero

Yes, Houston, we have a problem. Keep in mind, it is 8:46 AM in California as I type this:

Tim

logger7

I've been noticing the time off too.

CaptHenway

I got that "pre-shipment info sent" message this morning on a different package that went into the abyss yesterday.

CaptHenway

Got an email that says that the item is in my P.O. Box as of 10:31.
I think I will wait a day before going over there.

pointfivezero

@CaptHenway said:
Got an email that says that the item is in my P.O. Box as of 10:31.
I think I will wait a day before going over there.

Probably a safe option but I generally trust the delivery notifications.

Tim

PS - after my shipment listed “out for delivery” at 1:10 PM, it now shows delivered at 8:34 AM.

BStrauss3

Working with time is actually a difficult proposition, especially if your coders are idiots.

In any modern computer language, libraries and standard codes handle this correctly, and universally. You get garbage like this:

• When the coder tries to be clever or doesn't know about the standard library
• When they don't realize that there are different timezones in the US (no joke)
• When they don't realize that there are different timezones across the world
• When they don't realize that there are different date and time formats across the world

A timestamp like 18/5/2023 13:01 will break most idiot implementations. It doesn't sort, idiot code mistranslates it, and a host of problems.

https://www.iso.org/iso-8601-date-and-time-format.html

PerryHall

The "Estimated delivery" date is a joke.

ricko

I consider it final when I see the package on my porch - up to that point, I generally do not follow it. Cheers, RickO

BuffaloIronTail

@CaptHenway said:
I just now, at 6:30 AM local time, tracked a package I have coming from eBay, and it shows as having left the Denver Regional Center, presumably for my home town. at 9:48 this morning!

If only it could give out lottery numbers more than three hours in the future!!!!

Yea. Lottery.

Take straws on if you'll get it at all.

This is the Postal Service we're talkin' about. (I assume).

Pete

bsshog40

Ya, I hear ya. Waiting on this package. Lol

CaptHenway

Maybe they are using DeLoreans to transport mail about!!!!

messydesk

The tracking history is so often jumbled up that I don't even look at it anymore. I just tell myself that it's the USPS.